Dear Families,

Reports will go home with students this Friday. While many parents and carers may share the results of these reports with your children, it is always important to remember that the grade a child receives is just part of who they are as a person. It can be wonderful to celebrate an improvement or to use the report as a way of talking about the importance of education. The Conversation released a great article a few years ago about ‘How to talk to your child about their school report’ and reminds parents that a ‘C’ means that your child is achieving ‘At Standard’.

https://theconversation.com/how-to-talk-to-your-child-about-their-school-report-99640

Families are reminded that this semester, there will be no comments on the reports and you are encouraged to book a time to speak with your child’s teacher via the sZapp online booking system.

Academic, Social and Behaviour Intervention Programs

The school currently has a large number of intervention programs occuring. Many of these support students with reading difficulties, including minilit, macqlit and reading tutor. We also have a number of opportunities provided for those students requiring extension, including the recent da Vinci Decathlon and the Maths Olympiad. However, we also have a number of programs aimed at supporting students with behaviour and self-regulation. Stewart McDonald and our CSAs run a number of small groups and 1:1 programs aimed at supporting students to self-regulate, make better choices and learning social skills through role play and social stories. As a Berry St school, we support student’s growth through trauma informed practices and by providing a safe space for children to learn. If you would like to learn more about the Berry St Education Model (BSEM) and some of the ways we work here at St Thomas Aquinas, you can take a look at their website:

https://www.berrystreet.org.au/learning-and-resources/berry-street-education-model

This year, we have also partnered with Harvard University to become part of their Caring Schools Network. We are still at the very early stages of this partnership but know that this too, will support us in providing a safe and supportive learning environment for students here at St Thomas Aquinas.

https://mcc.gse.harvard.edu/research-initiatives/caring-schools-network

Hoodie and Beanie Day and the CEO Sleepout

This Friday, students will be able to wear a hoodie and/or beanie to support St Vincent de Paul. Students are asked to bring in a gold coin to go towards the St Vincent de Paul CEO Sleepout which raises much needed funds to support those in our Canberra Community who are sleeping rough. I will only be sleeping rough for one night, outdoors at the Arboretum as my small part in making our community a safer place for all. Thank you again to those who have already donated for this. If you still wanted to make a donation, you can follow the link:  

https://www.ceosleepout.org.au/fundraisers/leahtaylor/canberra

Survey
The survey is now closed, thank you to those families who contributed to the survey. In the end, we had 62 families out of 224 families participate. We will analyse the results over the next few weeks to support our strategic and annual planning. We will also be using the results of this survey, along with other data to develop a new vision for St Thomas Aquinas moving forward. We will continue to provide an opportunity for all members of our St Thomas Aquinas Community to contribute to this work.

God Bless

 
Leah Taylor
Principal

The school has been notified that we have had a student with Chickenpox.  Please see the Chickenpox Fact Sheet, provided by ACT Health, below.

School photos will be taken on Tuesday, 22 June 2021 for Primary School and ELC.  ELC will have an additional photo day on 24 June 2021. 
All students are required to be in full school winter uniform on the day.  Orders Form will be sent home tomorrow and all orders are online.

If you would like a family photo of your children, you will need to visit the Front Office and request a Sibling Order Form. The Sibling Order Form must be returned on or before photo day.

Parents of separated families who would like photos are required to obtain a shoot key.  Please call 62559208 or email Canberra.office@msp.com.au.

Please note that Term 3 begins on Tuesday, 13 July 2021. 
Monday, 12 July 2021 is a pupil free day due to staff training.

3 Way Conversations will be held in Week 10 on Tuesday afternoon, 22 June and Wednesday morning and afternoon, 23 June 2021.

This is an opportunity for you to have a 3 Way Conversation between Parents, Teachers and Students to discuss academic results.  These bookings are for ten minutes, and are optional, but we urge you to take advantage of the opportunity to meet with your children's teacher/s.

Bookings are open from Monday, 7 June at 6am and close on Monday, 21 June at 12 pm.   You can also book on your phone via SZapp.  Please see the bottom row of the SZapp Tiles.

Click Here for Parent Booking Guide

Click Here to Book

• School Fees for Term 2 are now overdue.
  Please note that school fees must be paid by the end of term. 

• Single-use plastics banned in the ACT
  Changes to single-use plastics in the ACT are officially on the way. From 1 July 2021, the ACT will become the second Australian jurisdiction to commence a ban on the sale and supply of selected single-use plastic items including: 

  • Single-use plastic cutlery 
  • Single-use plastic drink stirrers 
  • Expanded polystyrene takeaway food and beverage containers.

  Please ensure your child/ren have drink bottles and utensils for eating yoghurt, soups etc.

• COMPASS Kiosk has Arrived!!!
  Please note that our Compass Kiosk has been installed.  This requires all parents/carers to sign their child/ren IN/OUT/LATE.

Please note that all students are required to be at school by 9am each day.  If you drop your child/ren off after 9am, please enter the Front Office to sign your child/ren in.  

Parents who have dropped their children off after 9am, and not signed their child/ren in late, will be asked to return to school to sign-in their child/ren via the Compass Kiosk at the Front Office.  This is a CE compliance requirement.

• Absentee Notifications
  Whilst we await the introduction of the Compass Parent Portal, it is preferable that Absentee Notifications be advised electronically as they are now required to be attached electronically.  Notifications can be sent via:

• • SZapp portal - Choose Absentee - see menu below.  Instructions on how to install SZapp can be found here.
  • Email the teacher
  • Email the office via office.staquinas@cg.catholic.edu.au

Thank you for your co-operation.

• Enter the School via the Front Office Only
  For the safety of students and staff, all parents/carers/visitors must enter the school via the Front Office only.  Please do not enter the school via any other door, even if it is for a short period of time to talk to a teacher, check lost property etc.  Our COVID requirements also require all visitors to the school to register with the Front Office.
  
  
• Arranging Meetings with Teachers
  Just a reminder that if you wish to speak/meet with your child's teacher, please pre-arrange a time with the teacher via email as teachers often have meetings and professional development before/after school.

Community News is located on our website.

JUNE 2021
Congratulations to the following students who will be celebrating their birthday this month:

Anna D;  Aleisha MA;  Leo W;  Mackenzie C; Millie A;  Maeve J; Leilani MH; Lucinda B;  Maddison J;  Emily McL;  Samuel B;  Phoebe S;  Zachary M;  Ivy LH;  Luke S;  Liam McC; Mason S;  Annabelle McP;  Emma O'B;  Alexander W;  Eleana O;  Georgia R;  Sam D;  Nella W-S;  Lachlan McL;  Tyrone C;  Xavier V;  Lucas G;  Chuol C